IIn 2019, Hong Kong is experiencing a dramatic summer, which will be recorded in the history of this city and country. The protests against the planned extradition law in the Special Administrative Region of China started peacefully, mainly with elementary school students and students taking to the streets, insisting that the “one country, two systems” formula should not be further weakened by the influence of the Chinese. The government becomes. But the struggle for “true” democracy soon reached its peak, and state power showed an ugly face.
Two years have passed, and for a long time, the world’s attention has turned to new hot spots. But the calm after a political storm is usually deceptive because it conceals serious consequences. Documentaries such as “Hong Kong-A City in the War of Resistance” are particularly important. They remind us that injustices that have occurred will always have an impact on the future. For example, in the summer of 2019, young men and family-owned Tan were jailed for several years for their commitment to democracy. He is one of the protagonists who accompany director Han Yanyuan to fight for a better and more democratic future. Wearing a gas mask, testicular protection device and knee pads, Tan confronted the police. Over the past few months, the police have used rubber bullets and high-pressure water guns to push the demonstrators back to their original places more and more cruelly. A scene shows a policeman spraying tear gas in front of a protester at close range while the man writhes in pain. Tan said: “My family can wait for me, but my colleagues can’t.”
One of these comrades-in-arms is Eve, a law student, sitting in front of a monitor at the university, which shows terrifying real-time images of the escalating protests. She provided support within her capacity, provided legal assistance and coordinated actions. Twitter, Instagram, but most importantly, Telegram is the preferred communication channel for demonstrators. Of course, their fear of being eavesdropped is great. Eve said that anonymous callers from China threatened her and her family with death, but they did not intimidate her.
The Street View impressively captures the dynamics of the protests and where everything dominates the record. During the hottest stage of the protest, the offensive and retreat of the demonstrators alternated every minute. The police are dismantling the roadblocks just set up. There is no safe place anywhere. One day, the police arrested an 18-year-old man, MJ, at his home. The camera accompanied his girlfriend Jessica, who had completely broken up, left Hong Kong and took a taxi to the police station. The summer of 2019 will also test countless interpersonal relationships. Everyday moments like MJ and Jessica go shopping, laugh and fool around are becoming very rare. Suddenly, it was obvious that it was unusual.
One of the strongest scenes is a derogatory discussion between students and their university president. Shocked that he never publicly condemned the police’s violence, they yelled at him. You feel betrayed by someone who has studied and lived in the West. Now you are too cowardly to speak up. A student burst into tears.
At the same time, the people are also very engaged: Never before has a social movement in Hong Kong received such widespread and cross-border support. When drivers feel they can protect the protesters from the police, they stop – they are called parent taxis. These female taxis may have disappeared, but the scars left in the summer of 2019, as well as the freedom fighters who died, were injured, and arrested, are still painful.
Hong Kong-a city of resistance, At 10.55 tonight at Arte.
